Sustaining the SFAAT

Photo By Sgt. Candace Foster | Low Cost Low Altitude (LCLA) operations were conducted in order to aerial resupply COPs that were dangerous to travel by road and allowed more efficient resupply  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

10.10.2012

Story by Spc. Candace Foster 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

FORT IRWIN, Calif. – With rumors aloft about the National Training Centers Rotation 13-01, which the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) is currently executing, being one of the largest rotations ever at NTC, 210 Brigade Support Battalion was faced with a difficult task; sustain the force … all of it!

The 210th BSB entered the training area with the logistical requirement to support over 50 Security Force Advise and Assist Teams (SFAATs) in addition to the routine support given to 2d Brigade Combat Team.

Forward Support Company’s (FSC) and Alpha Company, 210 BSB have been operating within their area of support to ensure the SFAAT’s and 2nd Brigade soldiers are supported with all classes of supply.

The 193rd BSB serves as a Combat Service and Support Battalion (CSSB) for NTC providing theater sustainment for the brigade. The 193rd pushes bulk supplies to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Denver where A Company, 210 BSB then reconfigures the package to unit specifications and pushes these supplies by tactical convoy (TCO) or air drops it to the FSCs at two outlaying FOBs; FOBs Seattle and Miami, where D Company and E Company 210 BSB are staged.

“We push to the large FOBs; from Denver to Miami and Seattle. On average we push two TCO’s a day with food, bulk fuel and building supplies as required,” said First Lt. Tim Cassidy, A Company Executive Officer.

Once this occurs the FSC’s then use their Forward Logistical Element’s (FLE) to push and pull supplies to the Coalition Out-Posts (COPs) they support. “Coming into NTC we forged two FLE’s to act as micro-FSC’s. The elements are made up of a host of sustainment specialties that allow us to be a one-stop-shop for SFAAT’s providing distribution assets, field-level maintenance, field feeding and bulk fuel support at several locations,” said Capt. Stephen Lahr, D Company Commander.

“Our soldiers are performing incredibly well given the adversity that comes from performing a new mission in an unfamiliar environment as they tirelessly sustain the SFAAT’s mission,” Lahr added.

In addition to ground support, the BSB is conducting Aerial Resupply. Low Cost Low Attitude (LCLA) air drops are optimal aerial resupply methods used in Afghanistan in order to by-pass unforgiving terrain and place fewer soldiers on the roads.

Speed balls are another efficient way to keep soldiers off the roads. Speed balls are predominately used for food, water and medical supplies. A Human Remain Pouch (HRP) or “body-bag” is filled with supplies and dropped at a designated grid coordinate. Speed Balls require no specialty equipment and are a fast and effective form of resupply. A Company has successfully conducted 20 speed ball missions so far at NTC.

“Speed balls allow us to provide a quick resupply for a small company element in a remote location, in the event ground distribution is unavailable,” said Maj. Moses, Brigade Support Officer (SPO).

There are numerous challenges to the concept of support as key logistical players from the SPO shop orchestrate the concept, oversee successful execution and then re-access shortfalls. This is all part of the training that the SFAAT’s provide for the BSB by stretching the limits and capabilities within the battalion. “It allows our logistics system to be stressed, which in turn allows us to identify weaknesses and make improvements,” said Lt. Col. James Cotter, 210 BSB Commander.

Stressing the system will ensure that they have worked thru various concepts of support and can sustain various configurations of SFAAT logistics. “When the SFAATs moved we had to ensure the new locations receiving them were prepared to logistically support them. They were moving from large FOBs to COPs and assets needed to be prepositioned in a timely manner in order to eliminate any lapse in support,” said Capt. Cody Sherlock, commodities manager in the SPO shop.

Organic to the battalion is Green 5; an SFAAT newly created for the brigade’s mission in Afghanistan. This team relies on the BSB for all its life support. Non-organic SFAAT’s are also being supported by the battalion and provide another logistical training opportunity.

Bravo Company, 210 BSB is the maintenance company. B Company has established 24-hour operations and created a Maintenance Support Team (MST), in order to provide flexible response to acute maintenance issues. “Aside from automotive, the specialty sections have also tailored their manning to provide around the clock support for all SFAAT maintenance requirements,” said Capt. Alan Crabtree, Bravo Company commander.

Another opportunity exploited at NTC is the chance to repair and recover Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles or MRAP’s. This equipment is not always accessible at Fort Drum for training, but will be pertinent to their maintenance mission in Afghanistan. “The ability to work on these vehicles allows the mechanic to get experience that will pay large dividends in Afghanistan,” said Crabtree.

“As the rotation continues, Provider’s will continue to support the SFAAT’s in all capacities,” Lt. Col. Cotter added.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2012
• Date Posted: 10.24.2012 14:15
• Story ID: 96679
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US